Silva's theme for address: No egos

STOCKTON - One week from today, Anthony Silva will step to the podium and deliver his first State of the City address since taking the mayor's office.

Scott Smith

STOCKTON - One week from today, Anthony Silva will step to the podium and deliver his first State of the City address since taking the mayor's office.

His theme: "Leaving All of Our Egos at the Door - Change is Inevitable."

His provocative title combined with the rocky political battles Silva has so far waged have sparked speculation on what will follow in the mayor's address.

Silva has yet to compose it in full. Whatever he decides, the words will come from his heart, he said Wednesday.

"I'm going to make it clear that I don't want anyone to feel I have an ego, or I am impeding the progress of the city," he said.

Silva denied that he'll be pointing a finger at City Manager Bob Deis or anybody, but the battle lines are clear.

The two clashed again this week at the close of Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Silva made a public request for the cost consultants incurred upon the city for attending an eight-hour council meeting in early April.

Deis spoke up to counter the criticism, telling Silva that as the mayor he ran that meeting and influenced its length. Silva interrupted Deis.

"Sir, when it's your time to talk, I will call upon you," Silva said. "Push the button ... and it will blink."

Silva said that in his inaugural speech to the community he intends to reflect on his first five months in office and how he's been treated along with the positive aspects of Stockton and what needs improving.

Silva said he is considering giving his speech at a second location where anybody can attend for free. The official luncheon costs $35 for a ticket.

Silva said one thing he's learned: Politics in Stockton - a city of nearly 300,000 residents - is more like a game of tic-tac-toe, where too often the debate ends in a draw where nobody wins.

"It's definitely an eye-opening experience," he said. "And not what I expected."

To onlookers, the theme of Silva's anticipated speech leaves few ambiguities.

"What I'm interpreting, he's taking a shot at the city manager," said Douglass Wilhoit, CEO of the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the State of the City event.

Wilhoit said Silva twice asked him for advice on the upcoming speech, and Wilhoit told him that this was his time to shine and show his leadership ability.

As a sponsor of the State of the City event, Wilhoit said he and his staff do not ask for an advance copy or attempt to edit or help him compose it. Deis did offer his advice on the speech, Wilhoit said.

"If the mayor chose not to reach out and use that, then, OK, so be it," said Wilhoit, who added that the lack of decorum he sees inside City Hall today has left him disheartened.

Councilwoman Kathy Miller said that just because the votes among seven council members haven't gone in Silva's favor, that isn't an indication of egos clashing.

"If the mayor has a problem with the city manager's actions, he should start first with discussing those issues with his fellow council members," Miller said. "That's not happening. He cannot blame that on the city manager."